Apparatus for laminating glass



Sept. 22, 1936. WQ OWEN 2,054,864V

APPARTUS FOR LAMINATINGl GLASS lFiled Feb. 19, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 1` 28 INVENTOR MAJ a Wm' Sept. 22,l 1936. W. OWEN APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING GLASS Filed Feb. 19, 1934 `3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR sept. 22, 1936. W OWEN 4,864

APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING GLASS y Filed Feb. 19, 1934 s sheets-'sheet 5` Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATE APPARATUS FonLAMINATING GLAss William Owen, Pittsburgh, Pa.,V assignor to Pitts,-

burgh Plate Glass Company, a `corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 19, 19341, Serial/ No.r71L859 The invention relates to apparatus for makingV safety glass, which consists of a pair of lglass' sheets vwith an interposed sheet of reinforcing materiaLsuch as cellulose plastic. Thel apparatus yl is particularly designed for preliminarilyco-mpositi'ng curved safety glass, but may be` used for. the complete pressing operation. It has Afor its principal object the provision kof a compact apparatus for compositing or laminating a plu-` rality of sets of sheets at one time, in the use ofi which a minimum of time'and effort isrequiredl in loading and unloading the rubber containers for the sets of sheets, and in clamping/and url-- clamping such containers, and in which a very )V` secure clamping means for the containers is pro-r vided. Briefly stated, the invention involves the use of a plurality of containers or bags of rubber (for the sets of sheets to be laminated) open at both ends, and clamping means for the ends Aof the bags so arranged that when the set of bagsl isarranged in parallel and above the other, a single clamping means at each end of the set serves to clamp all of such ends. Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: l y Y.

Figure 1 is a section on the line I-I of Fig.` 2.7, Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig.v1; Fig; 3 is an enlarged detail section showing the clamping means at the ends of the containers or bags; Fig. 4 is ar view similar to Fig. 3 showing modifications; Fig. 5 is a section through amodiiication, such section beingv taken on the line V-V of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5. And Figs. '7 and 8 are enlarged detail views, Fig. 7 being a plan view and Fig. 8 a section through the clamping meansfor the bags' of the Figs. 5 and 6 construction. Referring to Figs. l, 2, and 3; I is an autoclave or tank lled with a suitable pressing liquid, preferably a high boiling solvent', such as diethylen'e glycol. This tank is pro-vided with means for circulating the liquid comprising an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3, such pipes being. connected with a suitable heat exchange apparatus, which is not shown. During the pressing operation,` a heating fluid is circulated through kthe tank, andy after the pressing operation is completed, acool-` ing fluid may be circulated so that the laminated glass in the tank may then be removed ata 0` lower temperature. The tank isalso provided:` with a suitable drain VIl'andan air inlet pipe 5 to facilitate the draining, such pipes being closed during the normal operation .of theapparatus. 4[The apparatus for carrying the rubberbags, 55 in. which the glass sheets are composited com` alsy (Cl. 1v8-17) prises aframe consisting of a` base member 6 and a pair of guide members 1, 1 at each end of thebase member. Thel basemember is in the form of `I-Ioheams connected attheir ends by the channels8, 8,.while the guide members l, 'I are 5 in Vthe-form of channels. .The guide members l, 'I1 are yprovided' with feetu, 9 welded or. otherwisey secured tothe channelsf'l, I, and having theirA lower ends formed so as'tojsurroundthe upper ilanges of the I-beams. lThis vprovides for the' 10 adjustmentlof the `two pairs of guide members toward and from veach other to `adapt the apparatus for use with bags 'of` different lengths, depending upon the size ofthe product which is tolbe laminated. f 15 The bags or containers I0 are open at both ends to facilitate the insertion .and removal of the s ets o f curved sheets which are to be laminated. This arrangement makes it much easier to insert4 atset'of sheets and remove them, than ifl the bag 20 was open onlyY at one end. As indicated lin Fig. 3 each s'et of sheetscomprises the glass plates H, Il, with an interposed sheet of cellulose plastic I2, the' faces lof the glass sheets being. provided with suitable cementing material before the sandwich, consisting `of the three sheets, is assemble-d.

VIn order to securely ,close the bags at each end, a pair of 'clamping plates I3, I3 is provided, preferably having opposed corrugatedl surfaces, and

these plates are secured togetherby suitable 3.0Y

bolts I4, which are` threaded into the lower member I3.,` The plates I3, I3 are of such length and v shape thatv they fit slidablybet'ween the chan: nels l, l which thus constitute guideways for the plates.v After the assembled sheets of glass and reinforcing are placedinthe bag, the clamping members I3, I3 are then applied and tted into `the upper ends, of the channels 1, 1, the clamping plates sliding down until they come to rest at the bottom of the channel. Each succeeding 40 bag, with its sandwich to be laminated is inserted lin theapparatlls inv the same manner until the entire `set has been brought into assembled relation, asindicated in Figs.A l and .l 2. The clamping ,members I5, I5 are then applied as 45 indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. l At each of the upper ends of the channelsl, 'l is a bracket I6 to which is pivotedV a clamping rvbolt II. These bolts yfit into slotsinthe ends of the'members I5, I5 and carry at their upper` ends the clamping Vnuts I8' 50 havingthe handlesV I9. By turning the handles, the nutsf'are screwed downapplying clalrnpingl pressureto the members I 5., I5, whichclamping pressure is transmitted to the clamping plates I3, I3' so that thenecessary -pressure is applied placed in the guide channelv 'I, 1.

header is connected by means of the flexibleY pipes 23 and 24 to a suitable exhausting device, so that preliminary to and during the pressing operation, air is exhausted from the interiorpf the bags, this being a condition which is known in the art to be desirable. The clamping'connections at the ends of the bags, as heretofore described, insures against the loss of vacuum preliminary to the pressing operation and prevents any ingress of liquid from the tank I to Y theA interior of the bags during the pressing operation.

After the apparatus is assembled and plac'edin the tank, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tank l= is closed and; filled with theA pressing liquidv which is brought up toy a temperature of about 240 degrees such temperaturel being maintained during the pressing operation. The pressureV which is applied te the liquid will vary, depending upon whether the pressing is a preliminary one te be followed by a final pressing in a, hyldraulic tank, as set forth in. Sherts and Hamill Patent No. 1,781,084, or whether the operation is designed to complete the lamination of the glass.

In the first case, the pressure need not run above twenty or thirty pounds, but in the Vlatter case about 15GV pounds per square inch is required.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement for clamping the ends of the bags I0. TheV clamping' platesV 25- are somewhat diiferent in shape, but t removably in the channels I, I constitutingV the guide members, the same as in the con-VV struction of Figs. l, 2', and 3'. I'he clamping plates are inrthis case pivoted together at their outer edges, as indicated at 26, and the clamping bolts 2T are applied int'ermediatenthe ends of the bags and the fulcrum` points 26. If desired, the bolts 21 may be Vscrewed down suiciently to make the ends of the bags tight With-V out resorting to the use of the members I5, I'v and the clamping devicesV cooperating therewith.v If desiredrwhen this construction is used, the bags may be evacuated after the clamping members 25, 25 are applied and before the bags are InV order tofacilitate the movement of the bag carrying'device, the base member Bis preferably'provided with the wheelsr28, 28' which are guided' Vinto the tank on the oor 29l by means of theV guide strips 30.

Figs. 5 to Y8 illustrate a modificationY in which thetank 3| and equipment is similar to the tank, I heretofore described, the difference relating to the apparatus for supporting and clamping the rubber bags which carry the sheets to be laminated; Inthis case, the base member comprises a pair of channels 32, 32 provided with a pair of.' wheels 33. Mounted slidably between the channels are a pair of blocks 34', 34 which carry the' s .guide members for the- .clamping devices, such;

guide members in the present case comprisingr a pair of spaced rods 35 which are screwed atY their lower ends into the blocks 34. These. rods are threaded at their upper ends and carry the nuts 35a provided with the' handles 35'. In thisform of apparatus the rubber bags 31 are similar to those heretofore described, being open at both ends, but are positioned so that the sheets to be laminated have theirrconvex sides facing up instead of facing down. The clamping members in this case, consist of Ytransverse members'38 placed one above the other, as indicated in Fig. 8. and having their ends Slotted as indicated at 3;! (Fig. 7 so'as to ,receive the clamping rods 35. Each of the clamping membersr38 is provided 'with an'inwardly extending flange 40 which projects in far enoughto lie beneath the edges of the glass sheets 4I, so that the sheets and the Vbagswhich carry the sheets are supported inv dependent of any gripping effect applied by the thus applying' clamping pressure to the entire Vseries VofV clamping members 38.

The vacuum pipes 42` arev now connected to the bags and air is exhausted from the header 43 by means of the connections '44 and 45. The tank 3l is now closed and the heating and pressing Vliquid is applied in the same manner, as heretofore described in connection with the apparatus of Figs. l'to 3.

What I claim is:

l. In combination in apparatus for making laminated glass, a frame comprising a base and a pair ofnpright parallel guide members at each end thereof, a series'of clamping plates one above theY other, each free to moveY independently of the othersr guided between each pair of guide members, a series of rubber containers or bags for` the sets of sheetsV to be laminated open at both ends positionedV in parallel above the base with their Yopen ends between the clamping plates, and means for applying clamping pressure to each series of clamping plates.

2.111 combinationrin apparatus for making laminated glass, a frame comprising a base and a pair of upright parallel guide members at each end' thereof, Aaseries of clamping plates one aboveI the other,v each free to move independently ofthe others gui-ded betweeneach pair of guide members, a series of rubber containers or bags for the sets of' sheets .to be laminated' open at both lends positioned in parallel above the base with their.V open endsV between the clamping plates, means for applyingV clamping pressure to each series of clamping plates, an exhaust header, and a connection from each Vof the bags'to said header.

3'. In combination in apparatus Vfor making laminated glass, a frame comprising a base and a pair of upright parallelv guide members at each end thereof', a Vseries of clamping plates one above the other, each free toi move independently of the others guided between each pair of guide members, a series ofV rubber containers or bags for Ythe sets of sheets to be laminated open at Vb 'oth ends positioned in parallel above the base,

each bag having its ends between a pair of said clampingplates, means for clamping each of lsaid pairs of plates together, and other Ymeans where-- by clamping pressure is applied to all the members of'each. series offplates. Y Y

4. In combination in apparatus for making laminatedV glass, a frame comprising a base andY a'pair of yupright.' parallel guide membersat each endv thereof, one of which Vpairs is slidingl'yY mounted for adjustment on said base toward and from the other pair, a series of clamping plates one above the other, each free to move independently of the others guided between each pair of guide members, a series of rubber containers or bags for the sets of sheets to be laminated open at both ends positioned in parallel above the base with their open ends between the clamping plates, and means for applying clamping pressure to each series of clamping plates.

5. In combination in apparatus for making laminatedQ glass, a frame comprising a base and a pair of upright parallel guide members at each end thereof, a series of clamping plates one above the other, each free to move independently of the others guided between each pair of guide members, a. series of rubber containers or bags for the sets of sheets to be laminated open at both ends positioned in parallel above the base with their open ends between the clamping plates and each provided with an inwardly projecting flange adapted to lie beneath and support the edges of the glass sheets in the bag, and means for applying clamping pressure to each series of clamping plates.

WILLIAM OWEN. 

